A WESTON-SUPER-MARE shop owner has been ordered to pay more than £10,500 after admitting multiple food hygiene offences – including storing a food delivery in the lane behind the store.

On December 10 last year Binu Chacko, owner of Central News, at 5 The Centre, Weston, appeared before North Somerset Magistrates’ Court and admitted to 10 breaches of food hygiene regulations.

North Somerset Council (NSC), which brought the case, said the offences related to “unacceptable practices during a delivery of meat and fish in April 2025, when food was unloaded and sorted in unhygienic conditions in the lane behind Mr Chacko’s convenience store”.

“Additionally, Mr Chacko used a dirty, rusted knife to cut the food, had no facilities to wash his hands, and failed to store the food under appropriate temperature controls,” an NSC spokesperson said.

“Further investigations also uncovered that traceability documentation was missing, and the origins of certain food products could not be verified.”

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Councillor James Clayton, NSC Cabinet member for regulatory services, sport and pride in place, said: “This case highlights the importance of upholding the highest standards of food hygiene to protect public health. Handling food in such unsanitary conditions is unacceptable and puts both customers and the wider community at risk.

“North Somerset Council will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to comply with food safety regulations, to protect the health and wellbeing of residents and visitors.”

Mr Chacko was fined £4,154, reduced to £2,769 to reflect an early guilty plea. The court also ordered him to pay the council’s full costs of £6,627.62 plus a victim surcharge of £1,108, bringing the total financial penalty to £10,504.62.

Anyone with suspicions about food crime can report concerns in confidence to the Food Standards Agency through their website – www.food.gov.uk – or on 0800 028 1180.

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